Pilot Debrief

PIPER AEROSTAR 601P near Las Vegas, NV — 2012-01-05

Final reportWPR12LA075
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Date
2012-01-05
Location
Las Vegas, NV, USA
Airport
VGT
Aircraft
PIPER AEROSTAR 601P
Registration
N104RM
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, immediately after touchdown, the airplane began “wavering” and moments later veered to the left. He attempted to regain directional control with the application of “full right rudder” and the airplane subsequently departed the right side of the runway. A witness reported that the airplane’s touchdown was “firm” but not abnormal. As the airplane approached the left side of the runway, it yawed right and skidded down the runway while facing right. As the airplane began moving to the right side of the runway, the witness heard the right engine increase to near full power. The airplane spun to the left, coming to rest facing the opposite direction from its approach to landing. Another witness reported seeing the propellers contact the ground. The pilot attributed the loss of directional control to a main landing gear malfunction. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left propeller assembly was feathered and that the right propeller blades were bent forward, indicative of the right engine impacting terrain under high power. Both throttle levers were found in the aft/closed position, and both propeller control levers were in the full-forward position. The propeller control levers exhibited little friction and could be moved with pressure from one finger. The evidence suggested that the pilot inadvertently feathered the left propeller assembly during the accident sequence. The pilot did not report any preaccident malfunctions or failures with the airplane’s engines or propeller assemblies that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing after initial wavering.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • Photos
  • 15 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents15

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